Mahabharata Dialogues

The Retreat

03 Aug 2024 04 Aug 2024
The School of Ancient Wisdom, Devanahalli, Bengaluru

A 2-day immersive residential experience, where we came together to slow down and rediscover the stories we grew up with.

-DAY 1-
03 Aug 2024
Saturday
BreakFast08:45 - 09:30
Introduction & Icebreaker
Get to know your fellow retreat participants and facilitator
09:30 - 10:00
Vows
Why vows take a new imprint this week
10:00 - 11:15
High Tea with cookies11:15 - 11:35
Dance Drama
Stories we tell and tales we dance and shout!
11:35 - 12:50
Indraprastha
How the name changes, that drama and its aftermath
12:55 - 13:30
Lunch13:30 - 14:30
Guess in 10
Ask 10 Yes/No questions. Figure out who you are in 3 mins!
14:30 - 14:50
Mahabharata is you!
The conscientious Vidura. The hands-on Vasudeva. The enduring Vyasa. Who are you?
14:50 - 15:50
High tea with Pakoda15:50 - 16:15
The Maha Quiz
Geeky and fun quiz contest
16:15 - 16:45
Poetry recitation
Works of Dinkar, Gupt and other stalwarts. And, some self-composed too
16:45 - 17:30
Take a Break17:30 - 19:15
Draupadi
A theatre performance on the life of Draupadi. Enough said!
19:15 - 20:15
Dinner20:15 - 21:30
Farzi Mushaira
A comedic twist to traditional poetry
21:30 - 22:15
Uncomfortable tales *
Tales of lust, violence, disgust, and death from Mahabharata around a bonfire
22:15 - 01:00
-DAY 2-
04 Aug 2024
Sunday
Storytelling masterclass *
Understanding Preparation, Practice and Performance
07:00 - 08:00
Hands-on Dhanurveda *
Make some arrows early in the morning
07:00 - 08:00
What's in a name? *
Learn the theory/story behind existing names, and the craft of creating new ones
07:00 - 08:00
Breakfast08:00 - 09:30
The Vyuha Strategy Game
There are different kinds of vyūhas. Find the one that will counter the next attack!
09:30 - 10:15
The Butterfly Effect
Tales of complex connections
10:15 - 11:00
High Tea with cookies11:00 - 11:20
Communicate like Krishna
A corporate training session on developing situational communication skills
11:20 - 12:30
karmanye vādhikāraste
A facilitated discussion on arguably the most important shloka from Bhagavad Gita
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch13:30 - 14:30
The Last Dialogue
A Talamaddale-inspired conversation in character
14:30 - 16:15
High tea with Pakoda 16:15 - 16:40
Conversations about Mahabharata
A free for all conversation to question, speculate, and share stories from the epic
16:40 - 17:30
Conclusion17:30 - 18:00
* Optional/Simultaneous events
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